Open Democracy Advice Centre

ODAC’s mission is to promote open and transparent democracy; foster a culture of corporate and government accountability; and assist people in South Africa to be able to realize their human rights. ODAC seeks to achieve its mission through realising the right to know so that it makes a material, tangible difference to the lives of the poor, and thereby contributes to social and economic justice. Hence ODAC provides practical and niche services to individuals and organisations with a social justice agenda to help citizens access their rights in respect of three key pieces of legislation:

Protected Disclosures Act 2000 (PDA) Assented to and signed on 1 August 2000

The Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000 (PAIA) Signed by the President on 2 February 2000

The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act 2000 (PAJA) Signed by the President on 3 February 2000

The Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) was launched in October 2000 as a niche, not-for-profit partnership between the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), the University of Cape Town Department of Public Law, and the Black Sash Trust. It is the only specialist Centre of its kind in South Africa (and on the African Continent).